One of the videos mentioned at the beginning will be goodreads snubs *that make sense* not goodreads snubs *that don't make sense* 😅That'll be elaborated on when we actually get into that video. Anyway, let me know your disagreements!

@JohnSaxon-vw5vi

7 ай бұрын

Prayers and blessings for you and your family on your loss of your GRANDMOTHER sending you all of my love and prayers from Australia ❤❤❤please stay safe and healthy and take care of yourself and your husband love your Aussie family friend John ❤❤❤

The goodreads awards are like those student elections in high school. You know exactly who’s going to apply/be nominated and who’s going to win.

Things goodreads did right this year: making romantasy its own section What it did wrong: everything else

@nitzeart

7 ай бұрын

Yep. This is exactly it 😅

As a librarian, I agree with your toughts about the missing middle-grade books list.

Not a disagreement, because Murderbot diaries is one of my fave series i read this year, but the 7th book (which i still haven't read) literally came out the same day the nominations did and it was nominated and that's just ridiculous😂

@evelynstenberg

7 ай бұрын

Why did they nominate it then? Is there corruption in the Goodreads system?

Thank you for disliking Fourth Wing (yes!) and for giving me Nettle and Bone, Last Tale of the Flower Bride and so many other recommendations. These are books I'd likely not have come across from anywhere else. Keep doing what you do!

I'm convinced that Goodread's software is just SO outdated, that when they added the Romantacy category, they had to remove one of the other categories.😂

@thepoetesskhansaa

7 ай бұрын

I didn't even think of this but that would be pretty funny 😅

@Sykydwp-dy3qk

7 ай бұрын

Honestly I haven’t thought of that besides that they haven’t made ANY updates for the past 10 years or more🤣 what it needs is a dark mode.

@MissMokate

7 ай бұрын

on one hand I really wish they would update it, on the other, judging by what they did to the book pages I am so afraid of how ugly the design will turn out (I will forever complain about the absolutely massive and unnecessary spaces between every damn item on those pages on desktop)

@o_o-lj1ym

7 ай бұрын

Omg lmao

I was sad to see the middle grade and children’s books categories gone because those are the ones that I used the most for purchasing books. I have nieces and nephews and I like to buy them books, but don’t have anyone to turn to for recommendations.

Totally agree that it's disappointing to no longer have the middle grade category. Not only for to look for books for my tween, but also, I still enjoy reading MG books! :(

Goodreads Choice Awards for Graphic Novels is actually really good! Of course, the winner is the most popular, like Heartstopper last year (which i like), but having graphic novels being valued and recognized by a very popular Choice Awards is huge for the artists and for how comics are viewed as a whole. So many people don't value graphic novels and comics, not even seeing them as books, that taking that category off was very disappointing

@ChaosandComics

7 ай бұрын

Agreed!

So sorry to here about your grandma Elliot, I hope your family gets extra love during this difficult time.

I’ve read 4-5 books that were nominated and I didn’t really like any of them. I won’t be using Goodreads reviews to form my tbr anymore.

I dip my toes every now and then when it comes to graphic novels but I was disappointed that they removed that category. I liked checking out the nominees and see what would catch my interest. Besides that I’m glad that romantasy has its own category now. Fourth Wing would obviously win and for Fanasty I think it could be Tress of the Emerald Sea.

I agree that “what’s fantasy versus Romantasy” conversation might be a little tricky. Personally, I tend to view Romantasy as a very specific category with expected tropes/heat levels/etc, but some of the conversations I’ve seen around some of the fantasy nominees as made me realize that some people see any fantasy book with a prominent romantic storyline as Romantasy.

@Vickynger

7 ай бұрын

i think theres a lot of ppl who dislike romance subplots in their fantasy in general and would like to position romantasy as this catch-all for any fantasy with romance in it lol but i agree that there are certain tropes and genre conventions expected of romantasy and its not just about a romance subplot. i see romantasy as a subgenre of romance, not of fantasy, so i expect it to follow romance tropes and conventions, not fantasy.

I would've liked to see how much attention Yumi would've gotten in the Fantasy Romance category

Fourth Wing being in this list is like if The Jersey Shore was nominated for an Oscar.

I’m so sorry for your loss. A loss of a loved one is so hard, but I imagine it’s another level this time of the year. You’re in my prayers!

The poetry category has also been removed

Sorry to hear about your grandmother

Loving the new Luna pic with Christmas scarf and decor :)

I'm also sad that the middle grade category is gone! I rely on that for gifting my niece. For Fourth Wing and Iron Flame, GR Choice Awards doesn't put more than one book in a series as nominees. That's also why only Tress is up there for Brando Sando's Cosmere.

El, you're one of my faves and I'm sending all the hugs

I agree on middle grade. I am that parent whose child likes to read and good reads is a go to resource. I enjoy them as well. I am sad that the middle grade is not there this year.

My condolences on the passing of your grandmother ❤

I agree about the middle grade- my kid reads and likes to vote with me and there were 0 books that she knew 😢

I was literally just watching a video and had to come back and comment on this video because every single time I watch a video where the person goes on and on, gushing about Fourth Wing, I laugh so hard. I haven't read it and, based on your review, have no plans to read the book but just knowing how you feel about the book vs. how other people feel about it just cracks me up. I'm so sorry for the loss of your grandma. Losing a loved on is never easy.

Isn’t Goodreads Awards basically a popularity contest?

I really like that GR added the Romantasy category. I absolutely loved Fourth Wing but I am glad it's not in the Fantasy category.

I liiiiive for this time of year on your channel I love hearing your thoughts every Goodreads award. Also I don’t know if you’ve made a video on this already but can you do a video comparing all of the editions of the Once Upon a Broken Heart series? I read it at your recommendation and it got me out of a SERIOUS book slump so now I’m obsessed!

The problem with a popularity contest type of award is that the nominees and winners end up being the ones that the most people are familiar with, not even necessarily what anyone loves most. People agree more on what they like than what they love. I tend to give more weight to judged awards. I'm really happy to see the creation of the Romantasy category, but as a new genre, it seems to need some clearer definition. (I saw a lot of folks say that they didn't think The Jasad Heir belonged in this category. )

To me it doesn't matter if it's later than you wanted, it's just great that we get your wonderful takes on things

@deedaceopondo3520

7 ай бұрын

Agreed!

My condolences 💐 💐💐

I agree with you about the middle grade category! I homeschool my kids and I'm always looking for new books for read alouds and for my son to read.

I haven't used Goodreads in a few years now, as I was tired of the 'popularity contest' vibe ugh. However, I am sad to hear about the graphic novel and middlegrade sections being removed. I am glad that Fantasy and that Romantasy (ugh that term lol, find it hard even typing it XD) are separated.

I really love NPR’s end of year list. I look forward to that more than Goodreads. It’s more diverse, they have a ton of filters, and I feel like it strikes a good balance between popular and literary. I always add books to my TBR after pouring over their list!

I’m so sorry for your loss. Take care of yourself. ❤️

The Hurricane Wars was the first ARC I ever received and it was so hard to get through! I also got The Jasad Heir as an ARC and ended up really liking it!

I am so sorry about your grandmother … 😢❤ Heart goes out to you!

im so sorry to hear about your grandma passing❤

It's never too late to give your Goodreads opinions! I've watched a lot just to see how people differ from eachother and from me. I even found a newer booktuber through these commentaries. I think I'd trade the Romantasy category for Middle Grade to be back. I love that they added it as a fantasy reader but I read a lot of Middle Grade fantasy too, when I need a break from the high fantasy. I actually wonder if Sandersons Tress voters could have outvoted the Fourth Wing lovers....

I always enjoy hearing your opinions on this.

Some of us don't watch tons of booktube so your videos are the first I've seen analyzing GR awards!! I think for readalikes for middle grade librarians are more likely to trust Novelist than GR, but I'm still sad the category is gone

I think its great romantasy has it's own section on the goodreads list but I agree that it may result in some fantasy books with a romance subplot being miss categorised

Sending virtual hugs

😢😢 i hope you feel better soon love ❤❤❤ I love your eye make up and lipstick 💄 any details on it if it's not too much trouble 😊??? I also love that this is like a mini series to discuss everything I their own video. Thank you for the id ❤❤❤

I agree with you about the middle grade category being deleted. I buy all the children on my Christmas list books and it was a great resource for me.

My son has a Goodreads where I record books he's read so that we can find recommendations for future reads. He, however, was not interested in voting. I enjoy hearing everyone's thoughts on the awards, so thank you for still sharing yours with us.

Actually, I really liked the Witch King and even voted for it. It wasn't mad love from the first page and sometimes pacing felt a little bit odd, but somehow MC's story hooked me in and I kept thinking about it for more than a month after I finished book

@marek3505

7 ай бұрын

I also really enjoyed Witch King. It's interesting to see how different people can view the same book haha.

@annikkylamp8086

7 ай бұрын

Same. I also really enjoyed it and voted for it, I thought it was a fun and intelligent stand-alone with some depth and interesting world building (and I loved Kai). I was actually rather shocked when I saw that experienced fantasy readers found it too complex or convoluted - I really liked the way it was constructed and the reveals were well paced in my view. So yes, a reminder that even people with whom you have large overlap in taste, can view something entirely differently.

Dope eye make up! And great vid

Elliot I think the description you are looking for is Introductory fantasy. The novels that are great from people that want to dip there toes into fantasy.

Even if the Goodreads demographic isn't young readers, adults still read middle grade so idk why they couldn't have kept it. Like why did they get rid of any to make room for more categories?? It's not like it's costing them more to showcase the categories.

Great Video!

Sorry for your loss.

My child is too young for middle grade (we’re starting into magic tree house), but I would’ve totally done goodreads with them

I use Goodreads with my kids. They love to give their books ratings. We have never voted for the rewards but now that’s it’s gone I want to lol maybe they will bring that category back in the future

I am so sad about the middle grade books, my 7th grade son enjoyed participating and choosing books.😢

Authors can have multiple books nominated, but not if they are from the same series so Iron Flame couldn’t make the list

We are all entitled to our own opinions...after all dead fish swims with the current

@danielclasson9737

7 ай бұрын

do they, or are they just carried along.

Thank you for the video Elle! Don't worry about it being later than you planned, it's still very well received. Looking forward to the rest 🥰

I think that does sound like a fun thing to do with your kids :) It is definitely disappointing that they have gotten rid of categories, though.

I had to read Jasad Heir for my work book club and I wish I DNF'd it lol. As one of my club friends said about it, "So this was a flop."

Sorry im viewing this video so late- life has been kinda hectic. I have to agree that I was bummed re middle grade and comics being left off of the Goodreads Choice Awards. I never bothered to delve into The Jasad Heir.

I was so sad to see the middle grade go too.

Sorry for your loss. I agree with you on missing the Middle Grade category. I wonder how many times an author has a great book that wasn't nominated so there next book gets nominated because of that?

As a comic reader, yes, there were almost none on the Goodreads nominations list over the years that were interesting to me.

wow, so sorry for your loss :(

I think it’s funny you said that about how you would get your kid a goodreads account so they can log books, because I just talked about that with my son last night! Yea, I think the Romantasy category has ended up feeling uncomfortable to me because it feels very “well the fantasy category is for REAL fantasy and the romantasy category is for those popular books with too much sex that aren’t for TRUE fantasy readers”. I would have previously said that I would love a fantasy romance category but I just don’t like the optics of how it’s turned out. I like having the category so people can find more recommendations they might be interested in! I’m conflicted.

I agree. The Goodreads choice awards have gone a little downhill in the past few years that I've been voting. I've read some great books that as my personal opinion should have been on the list, but weren't because they weren't "popular" enough to make it.

A lot of the nominations are ones that I have seen in various book subscriptions. Do you feel there is any link?

I found it odd to see Vampires of El Norte in the Horror category. Would I put it under Fantasy Romance? Not exactly… Fantasy? No… So where? I completely understand what you mean about trying to fit books into a category when they straddle fences (like The Foxglove King). These authors should still be recognized for their works, but I don’t like that Goodreads almost discourages blending genres when that is something I really appreciate in the works I read.

I saw someone describe the Goodreads awards as the "Amazon wants you to buy this book" awards

It should probably just be called the Women's Choice Good Reads Awards. Most of the categories don't have more than 2-3 men in them.

I know it's divisive, but Happy Place is my favourite Emily Henry alongside People we meet on vacation. But yes, a lot of people have been vocal about not liking it, probably drowning out the people who did like it.

The middle grade and childrens and graphic novels categories being eliminated is so sad. Those categories are already sort of ignored I think by the mainstream publishing and readers.

The Goodreads Choice Awards has been kind of a joke for a while. I would love to see the actual analytics for votes, and how they choose which books. I know the site says it's based on which books are shelved the most, but that feels like a poor way of choosing books. I have books on my "want to read" shelf that has been there since 2015. Personally, I feel like the books that make it to the list(s) should be the ones that have the most ratings/reviews. (I know some people who rate on Goodreads don't also review). I also really hate how every couple of years they remove categories. I wonder if they'll next lump Sci-fi and Fantasy together. Looking back on past years(I think before Amazon acquired Goodreads) There were a lot of categories.

I was super upset that In Memoriam didn’t make it into the next phase for the debut novel category. It is such a good book but maybe not something the mainstream will cling to. I hope it wins other awards

Fourth wing is only good for one thing only and it’s not reading 😂😂

I was super disappointed by the Romantasy genre selection, that is my favorite genre but yet many of the books I never even heard anyone talk about.

I write short stories 🎉🎉🎉....that's all your getting unless you ask. Don't want to get in trouble with YT.😊

I love how different everyone’s opinions on Emily Henry’s books are. For me, I LOVED happy place and I think it’s my fave and her best, followed by book lovers, beach read, and people we meet on vacation. But apprently, me saying happy place is her best is not the common opinion!

Its so funny because Hannah Whitten was also confused that The Foxglove King was nominated for romantasy lmao

I did not get the hype of The Hurricane wars. DNF’d so fast

I am 634th viewer of your video...😊

I think the comics should have stayed

How the *fuck* The Will of the Many didn’t go to the next phase??????

I think Goodreads doesn't know what to do with fantasy with a romantic subplot, especially when written by women-hence, romantasy. It's the same problem with their general romance category and why so many historical fiction and general/women's fiction with romantic subplots end up there. 😏 (looking at you Emily Henry, Kristin Hannah, Lucy Score and so many others) But God forbid there be a historical romance that is actually a Romance be on there. (No Stacey Reid, Elisa Braden, etc on there. 🤨You know Actual Romance Writers) They get snubbed every year. Meanwhile authors like Henry, Hazelwood, Maas, Clare, CoHo and Jenkins Reid are put on there if they put out anything that year regardless of the quality of the material (which is usually very lacking). Sorry, but that lot is Mediocre at Best (Henry,Hazelwood) or defies all logic as to how they ever were published in the first place (Maas, CoHo,Clare). I'll have to be content that the mystery/thriller, sci-fi and horror categories weren't horrible this year. Though I am also sad to see middle grade leave. But it's a popularity contest so it'll be all the usual suspects in the end-just like every other year.

Sorry about your Grandma.

I think it’s criminal that Fourth Wing is more popular than, say, Divine Rivals. I just don’t get it 😢😂

You started looking at yourself in the screen.... Bad habit.

I haven’t read so many of the nominations 🥲